REVIVAL ISSUES

Revival Issues

By Michael Fackerell

A real Christian would naturally be very interested in revival and awakening. In recent years, certain streams have begun in the Body of Christ which have had considerable influence in a short time. One thing is clear, intelligence alone is no defense against deception - no matter who is right. My personal view is that we should major on majors, and minor on minors. We should major on God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, worship, prayer, fasting, evangelism, faith, hope and love.

Where Does Christian Revival Exist?

It seems that right now the strongest Christian revivals are in South and Central America. We have a lot to learn from our Spanish and Portugese speaking brethren. There are tens of millions of on-fire Christians in Brazil, and men like Carlos Annacondia are shaking Argentina with undeniable manifestations of the power of God. I strongly recommend his book "Listen to me, Satan!". Guatemala is on the way to being 50% born again Christian, and the harvest is ripe all through central America. There are also some revivals in China, a strong Christian presence in South Korea, and in some African nations. No revival is perfect. Until now God has not raised up sufficient numbers of western Christians to take up the cross and carry the true fire of revival faithfully. We need to pray more for this. The seductions of the world still dominate the western church in a large measure. It wouldn't hurt if we quit watching T.V. and wasting time on our own entertainments, and turned our affections and passions towards Jesus Christ and the Kingdom purposes of God.

Revival Stories from China

Dennis Balcombe reports on revival in China

Falling Down and other Manifestations

The time has come when God is looking for people who can stand in His presence. Can you stand in his anointing and minister before unbelievers in a hostile environment? May God get us all to that place. Personally, it doesn't impress me much when people fall over into the arms of a waiting Christian assistant. Yes, God does sometimes knock people over when he touches their hearts. Let God be God. However, many times people are trained to fall when God touches them, in order to prove they are not resisting the Spirit. Its not always that way, but I believe it often is. Let's see if people will listen to the Spirit outside of the sanctuary! Unless that happens, unbelievers will never be impressed, and we just up hyping up a revival, trying to convince ourselves that we've got something when in fact our marriages and other important relationships may be in serious trouble.

If everyone who was knocked over had gone on to live for God consistently, the world would be a different place. Lots of Christians who were never knocked over physically have changed the world. I repeat, let's major on majors. I've prayed for lots of people who have been knocked over by God, but that wasn't a revival. We can shake, rattle and roll and that's fine but in the end it is steadfastness, perseverance and godly determination to keep walking in the Spirit when it is difficult to do so that will produce major victories.

Interesting Links

Charles Finney's Revival Lectures - Download these lectures on how to have a revival, from the 19th century evangelist who rocked America. Also view challenging messages by George Otis, Jr, Winkie Pratney, and others. Finney's theology would be almost universally rejected today, but God didn't seem to care. People were cut to the heart, and it is reported that 80% of Finney's converts remained true to Christ to the day of their death.

Joel News - a great web page for revival news and links.

Brownsville Revival Home Page - People haved line up for 12 hours to get in. What is happening? You can download the preaching of Missionary/Evangelist Steve Hill, and other anointed preachers.

REVIVAL REPORTS

Revival breakthrough in Brisbane, Australia.

A testimony from Brownsville, Pensacola.

Revival Issues

The Brownsville Revival - comments by MF.

Jonathan Edward's - Distinguishing Marks of a Work of God - summary and comments by MF.

Information on the Pentecostal Movement

A Critical Response to "Counterfeit Christianity"

Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship - Their official website. I believe these people really love the Lord and have been mightily touched by the Holy Spirit. Even so, it could be a mistake to seek to emulate what is happening there. Each one of us must learn to open our hearts to the Spirit of God where we are. Embracing some strange physical manifestation is not a precondition for having the Spirit of God move mightily in your life. People have gotten off the track when they thought it was. Lots of people have done strange things and the end of the day you wonder why.

Revival Issues

Source: http://www.christian-faith.com/revival/index.html